SWABI, Aug 20: The provincial government has allocated Rs10 million for completion of Rehabilitation Institute for Disabled (RID) at Anbar, according to sources.

They said that Khidmat-i-Mazooran Tanzeem (KMT), a local organisation for the welfare of special people, approached the leaders of ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and apprised them about lack of funds for completion of the project, initiated four years ago.

The construction of the institute was stopped twice owing to shortage of funds but the leaders of the physically challenged persons did not lose heart. A two-kanal piece of land for the project was donated a local philanthropist.

There are 1,600 registered special persons in the district.

Sources said that so far KMT had spent Rs0.5 million on RID. The money was donated to it by philanthropists including a Pakistani British woman.

Sources said that a computer centre would be set up at RID where special people would get computer training. In addition, facilities would also be provided to those children, who could not speak or hear.

They would be imparted education and skills through special arrangements.

“We have also planned to establish a handicraft centre at RID. We are working on a plan to enable the special people of the district to earn their livelihood with dignity and honour. There would also be a psychotherapy centre at RID,” Fazl Dad, KMT general secretary, told Dawn.

To a question, he said that they knew that funds were required for the project. “We lack funds but we are determined to work for the special people of the district. When we established our body there was not a single penny with us but there was determination,” he added.

Mr Fazl said that they were aware of the difficulties of special people. He hoped that many philanthropists would come forward to help them once the building of RID was completed.

“We are in contact with various people in our country and abroad. We appeal to the affluent class and philanthropists to come forward and help us in this noble cause,” Mr Fazl said.

He said that their organisation delivered on several fronts during the last few years. “Few years ago, RID was a dream but now it is a reality. No doubt, its completion would be a milestone for disabled people of the region,” he said.

Mr Fazl said that Awami National Party government did not help them. A single wheelchair was not given to them during the five years rule of ANP, he said.

Sher Rehman, vice president of KMT, said that Pervez Khan, former MNA of ANP, had taken the RID map and estimated that the building would cost Rs8.4 million. He had pledged to arrange the amount but later said that chief minister (Ameer Haider Khan Hoti) diverted the fund to his native district Mardan, Mr Rehman said.

“Whenever we approached the ANP ministers and parliamentarians they were not ready to listen to us,” he said.

However, KMT president Bidar Khan said that many institutions in Islamabad and other cities of the country extended help to them during the five years rule of ANP.